Rise of the blood elves

288【Countess Katrana Presto】

"Why is there such a big battle to welcome some big shot?"

A traveler on horseback was ordered to dismount by the patrolling guard as soon as he arrived outside the city. He had to lead his mount closer to the crowd and asked curiously.

"It's the blood elf envoy." someone answered.

The horse was a little disturbed by the messy and noisy onlookers. The passenger comforted the horse while wondering: "What are the blood elves doing here?"

The man who answered looked at the traveler, surprised at the lack of news from the latter, and said in disbelief: "Didn't you hear that the king sent a diplomatic request to the blood elves a long time ago? Although I don't know what to do, I heard that The ambassador of the blood elves this time is the war hero from the north."

"I know, it's that Angmar Morningstar. I never thought he would come in person." The traveler stopped stroking his mount's neck with his left hand, then took over the topic and said in surprise.

The man nodded.

After this small episode, people nearby began to whisper to each other again.Everything they said was about this young and promising blood elf. Some time ago, the story about how he saved the coalition forces of all races in the "War of Dawn" spread to the Kingdom of Stormwind together with the resurrection of Archbishop Faol.

The reason why the church went beyond the Kingdom of Stormwind to support the blood elves has also been answered.

The people of the Kingdom of Stormwind and the destroyed Kingdom of Lordaeron are the most devout among the Seven Kingdoms, and ten of them are devout believers in the Holy Light.

Everyone has received the favor of Archbishop Fao. In recent years, every time Archbishop Fao passes away, whether they are believers or not, people will go to the nearby chapel to pray for him.

Just by saving Archbishop Faol, the blood elf won people's favor, which somewhat improved people's perception of Quel'Thalas.

In addition, for humans in Azeroth who are relatively backward in the times and have a single entertainment method, such stories are often very popular.

After digging deeper, various rumors surfaced.People began to understand the driving role that blood elf played in the entire war.There are actually people who can single-handedly bring together different races and countries with different intentions to fight against the evil invasion.

Therefore, when the news of the visit of the blood elf envoy spread, everyone wanted to see the true face of this blood elf war hero.

"Alas. They have also suffered a lot. Look what the leader of the blood elves has done, and what our king has done." Suddenly someone sighed softly.

Normally, no one would dare to talk to such remarks, and they would rather hide away.But at this time, everyone around them felt the same and turned their attention to Varian Wrynn and his son, who were personally greeting the distinguished guests at the city gate, as well as the princes and nobles.

The tall Varian Wrynn wore a gorgeous king's robe and was waiting quietly under the city gate. His expression was calm and peaceful, demonstrating the majesty of the Wrynn royal family.

He experienced too many hardships and twists and turns in the first half of his life.

The orcs brought suffering to the Kingdom of Stormwind and changed the fate of Wrynn's royal family.

His father, Llane Wrynn, was killed in a despicable assassination attempt, and soon after, Stormwind fell.Varian, who was only a teenager, endured confusion and panic. With the help of the kingdom's general Anduin Lothar, he led his people to cross the ocean by boat and seek refuge in the north.

It has been more than ten years since the war ended and I returned to my country to rebuild.

The appearance of a shrewd and capable woman made him, and all the nobles and people of Stormwind Kingdom extremely lucky.

Katrana Presto.

It's hard to imagine that a woman is so good that many men would be ashamed of her.In the past ten years, her contribution to the Kingdom of Stormwind, which was in urgent need of reconstruction and was in dire straits, could not be compared to even the most trusted Grand Duke Bolvar Fordragon of Varian's father, King Llane.

Under her coordination, the Kingdom of Stormwind worked hard to govern and reform, and from top to bottom, it became efficient and prosperous.

By the time Varian realized that 100% trust and delegation of authority had established a potential political opponent with as much prestige as himself, it was already too late.

But he was not willing to regard Katrana Presto as an enemy, because Katrana had already gained the trust of him and the Grand Duke of Bolvar through practical actions, and no noble would respect the people's wishes.

Until a year ago, a tragedy occurred.

Katrana actually encouraged the nobles to refuse to pay the Masons Brotherhood for the project.

In Varian's view, although the kingdom's treasury is empty and the settlement of payments should be slowed down, it must also be properly negotiated with the Masons' Brotherhood. It should never act like a superior, use power to pressure others, and refuse to pay. Promise of.

This is not something a king should do. It will definitely cause a loss of credibility. From then on, the people's morale will be lost. How can we talk about governing the country?

But things progressed far beyond his imagination.

In just a few days, before there was any time for follow-up remedies, the conflicts between the two sides escalated to the point of drawing swords against each other.Katrana's men arrested the "rebellious gang members" of the Stonemasons Brotherhood on a large scale. In order to resist, Van Cleef led all the stonemasons to create a riot in Stormwind City.

This is totally unreasonable.

Varian's beloved wife, Queen of Stormwind Kingdom, Tiffin Wrynn, died in that riot.

At Tiffin's funeral, Countess Katrana expressed her apology to Varian sincerely. She was thinking about the Kingdom of Stormwind and intensifying the conflict was undesirable. Even though Varian firmly believed in her loyalty, But he still realized his blindness.

Giving power to Katrana alone may not be the right choice.After all, no matter how good she is, she will always make mistakes.After that, she even refused to send troops to the western wilderness to suppress bandits on the grounds of replenishing her troops and preventing natural disasters.

In the third natural disaster war that followed, Katrana's policy of refusing to participate in the war was unanimously agreed by the nobles.

That's Lordaeron.

Varian still clearly remembered that more than ten years ago, when he was extremely helpless and set foot on a strange land far away from his homeland, it was the kind-hearted Terenas who helped him. He sympathized with the suffering that the Kingdom of Stormwind had endured and exerted himself. With his influence, he immediately persuaded various countries to form an alliance to fight against foreign enemies.

What the old king of Lordaeron did went far beyond politics.

Varian still remembered what the young Arthas said to him when he finally accepted the fate of his country's demise and his loving father's death, after holding it back all the way, and his tears welled up uncontrollably.

Regardless of morality or kindness, he should join the war.

But even as king, Varian could not have his own way amid the tide of opposition.

Katrana Presto

Already making Varian feel more and more uneasy.

Varian

Desire for change.Diplomacy was his first move.The arrival of the blood elf envoy will reveal the bloody northern war to the people in full detail.

With this thought in mind, he looked at the large nobles behind him.

Katrana, who was standing next to Grand Duke Bolvar, noticed something, turned her eyes and looked at him, a gentle smile blooming on her beautiful face.

"His Majesty the King"

She read the uneasiness in Varian's eyes, took two steps forward and inquired softly.

terrible insight

Varian thought to himself.

Growing up in a perfect royal education, he knew how to hide the true thoughts revealed in his expressions at a young age, and could even add inducement elements to his expressions to add weight to his political goals.

Even though he has been through so much and has long since calmed down, in front of Katlana, he will still be seen through at a glance.

"I feel uneasy when I think that what the blood elves have experienced may also happen to my people." Varian said half-seriously, his voice very calm.

"Your Majesty, you don't have to worry. The war will never burn our kingdom." Katlana smiled.

Alas, what an inconsistency.Varian thought helplessly.Katrana's loyalty is obvious to all, but she is still too cautious.

At this time, a milky voice sounded: "Aunt Katlana, we should help the northerners, just like they once helped us."

The speaker was Varian's six-year-old son, Anduin Wrynn. In order to commemorate Anduin Lothar, who died in the Second War, Varian gave his son the same name as him.

Aunt

Such a title should not appear between a prince and a noble of the kingdom.But in fact, Katlana is so close to the royal family.

Beyond common sense, a closeness that goes against common sense.

Anduin has always loved Katrana so much, and was deeply attracted by the maternal care radiating from her, as if he regarded her as a

His mother died in the riots a year ago. Although Varian was reluctant to admit this, Katrana had indeed entered Anduin's heart deeply and had become an indispensable existence.

"Anduin, we need food, fodder and fleets to sustain a long-lasting expedition, but at the moment we don't have these two things. Can you understand?"

Katrana knelt down and patted Anduin's head lovingly.

If the name he just called was beyond common sense, his current behavior was even more shocking.A nobleman actually caressed the head of the heir to the kingdom in public, in front of a crowd of nobles and a crowd of civilians watching.

But the nobles have long been accustomed to this.

In their hearts, Katrana Presto is the most special existence, and this is not disrespectful at all.

Anduin looked at his father for help.

Varian smiled at his son, eyes full of encouragement.Son, you are right, but we are currently unable to participate in the war. The reasons are very complicated and cannot be understood by your age.

"Your Majesty, after the meeting, can I pay a visit to this war hero?" Katrana stood up and stood side by side with Varian and asked softly.

This was supposed to be Tiffin's place

What is strange is that the nobles who highly value etiquette still turn a blind eye to this.

Varian nodded, "Of course. But you may have to wait until tomorrow, Katrana. Archbishop Benedictus also wants to meet this dawn of blood elves."

"It doesn't matter, I can wait. I admire him very much." Katlana covered her mouth and smiled.

After saying that, she did not walk back to the nobles, but continued to stand next to Varian.Like a queen in charge of power, she and the king quietly waited for the upcoming blood elf envoy.

"Your Majesty, they have arrived."

A royal mage said.

Since the distance spanned by the teleportation spell was too far and there were too many people passing through, in order to ensure the safety of the teleportation process, they helped the blood elf mage to accurately locate the end point at the far end of the avenue. Therefore, as soon as the blood elves stepped into the teleportation gate, they You will know as soon as possible.

"woo"

As soon as he finished speaking, a low and long horn sound came from the distance, gradually resounding throughout Elwynn Forest.

That was the horn blown by the soldiers of ceremony, the highest standard of courtesy in the Kingdom of Stormwind.

Varian knew that the Angmar Morning Star he had been waiting for had arrived.